OFFICIAL: Barcelona completes signing of Brazilian U-20 international

Emerson comes from Atlético Mineiro and will play on loan to Betis

FC Barcelona has officially announced the signing of 20-year-old fullback Emerson from Atlético Mineiro for 12 million euro. The club also said he will play on loan to Real Betis and has signed for 5 seasons.

Mundo Deportivo had reported that Barcelona and Betis collaborated on the signing. Emerson, who has been called up to Brazil’s U-20 squad, would first play on loan to Betis until the end of the season, at which point both Barça and the verdiblancos would pay six million euro each to exercise an obligatory purchase clause. From then on, Emerson would remain at Betis unless Barcelona decided to activate a clause they have to purchase him outright for 9 million euro, which would be an option available for two seasons.

However, in the official announcement, Barcelona did not discuss any deal of that sort. They simply stated they purchased his rights for 12 million and would loan him to Betis.

At the moment, the player would count against the non-EU limit that La Liga has in place. There is said to be no place for the right-back in the team. The player will reportedly join Betis on the 13th or 14th of February once the 2019 South American U-20 Championship ends on the 10th. Éric Abidal was said to have been one of the key men pushing for the deal on the Barça side.

Barcelona currently have Neélson Semedo and Sergi Roberto at right-back, plus Senegalese international Moussa Wagué in the B team.